This Saturday, the SDP called for an urgent parliamentary debate on Wednesday with the participation of the health minister, accusing the government of “absolute silence” in the face of risks to “patient safety” posed by the situation in the NHS.
“In front of dozens of hospitals whose emergency situation no longer provides the necessary medical care and to which the clinical director of the country’s largest hospital, Santa Maria, comes to make a desperate appeal to people not to go to the emergency room, saying that only patients transported to ambulances will have a guaranteed service, there is absolute silence not only from the Minister of Health, but above all from the Prime Minister, who has to respond to eight years of poor management of the SNS”, can be read in the request for this urgent debate , to which Lusa’s agency had access.
The PSD’s aim is for this debate to take place on Wednesday with the participation of Health Minister Manuel Pizarro, and the proposed topic is “the risks posed by the government’s failure to value National Health Service (SNS) professionals.” contributes to the quality of care and safety of patients served by the public health system.”
The Social Democrats noted that the situation of “imminent rupture” that was observed in the SNS has worsened in recent days due to the decision of “thousands of doctors” not to work more than 150 hours of overtime per year, which “has placed most hospitals in a situation of very serious restrictions” .
“The country can no longer wait for people to calm down on health care. This climate does not respond to those who need social networks and frightens families who expect to have to resort to health services,” can also be read in the request signed by the leader of the PSD parliament, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento.
According to the PSD, in addition to “eight years of incompetence and ideological pride” in PS governance, the Portuguese “want to know whether the government has solutions, a strategy for the future, and not just media figures.”
According to the Standing Orders of the Assembly of the Republic, urgent debates can be held every two weeks at the request of a parliamentary group, which are held “immediately after working hours, without prejudice to the existence of the political statements of the parties that intend to exercise this right.”
According to the parliamentary agenda, the next plenary session will take place on Wednesday and the agenda will include political statements. Today, in response to a question about the situation at SNS, the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, announced that the Minister of Health will hold meetings with trade unions in the sector next week.
In recent weeks, some of the country’s hospitals have found it difficult to maintain full teams, particularly for emergency services, as several doctors refuse to work more than the 150 hours of overtime required by law each year.
A survey this week by the National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) on the issuance of overtime protocols highlighted that this situation is leading to the closure and restrictions not only of emergency services, but also of other hospital services.
According to FNAM, about 2,000 doctors have already refused to work more hours than required by law.